Mission Statement
Welcome to the Alt. Country Specialty Chart!
We are a collective of radio promoters, radio stations and fans who have an interest in promoting more country-based music, that has lost most of its voice on other similar radio formats. The last few years, AAA and indie rock (and even classic rock) have found their way into the Americana format. Most of the more twang-based material we initially tracked for Americana comes from specialty radio shows. Alt. Country's chart goal is to get back to our roots and start paying more attention to these incredibly important specialty shows that feature the music we honored to shine the light upon in the beginning of Gavin and AMA. We feel that will be a more accurate representation of the "countrier" side of the coin. Of course, this would include the harder edge (Cowpunk/Southern Rock, Contemporary Blues) as well as the softer side (Folk/Bluegrass) and the balance between (Rockabilly/Western Swing). We want to move away from adds based on names and histories and get back to the actual records that are out and happening so folks looking for new roots-based music can find it. Welcome home!
About Our Founders
Joe Swank
Jenni Finlay
Jenni Finlay
Noted promotions guru Joe Swank has owned and operated the in-demand Swank Promotions: Americana & Non Comm AAA Radio Promotions since launching the company in 2014. He previously worked at Bloodshot Records in Chicago as a radio promotor and tour press organizer from 2008-2014 and served as primary radio promotor at Yep Roc Records/Redey
Noted promotions guru Joe Swank has owned and operated the in-demand Swank Promotions: Americana & Non Comm AAA Radio Promotions since launching the company in 2014. He previously worked at Bloodshot Records in Chicago as a radio promotor and tour press organizer from 2008-2014 and served as primary radio promotor at Yep Roc Records/Redeye Distribution in Haw River, North Carolina from 2001-2008. Swank has more than two decades experience in radio broadcasting both as on-air talent (morning show, afternoon drive, late night) and management (as program and music director) with additional time spent in advertising, copywriting and journalism. Swank currently has an Americana show The Y’allternative on WDBX (6 p.m. – 8 p.m. CST every Wednesday) and has self-released three albums of original material as singer-songwriter. Additionally, he has co-written material on the most recent releases from Two Dollar Pistols and John Howie Jr. & The Rosewood Bluff.
Jenni Finlay
Jenni Finlay
Jenni Finlay
Jenni Finlay effortlessly shapes iconic careers. After all, her singular roster – a group including legendary songwriters James McMurtry, Mary Gauthier and Slaid Cleaves as well as rising stars Matt Harlan and Chris Fullerton – consistently climbs charts.
“Jenni Finlay works a record with passion, integrity and a deep coolness,” Ray Wyl
Jenni Finlay effortlessly shapes iconic careers. After all, her singular roster – a group including legendary songwriters James McMurtry, Mary Gauthier and Slaid Cleaves as well as rising stars Matt Harlan and Chris Fullerton – consistently climbs charts.
“Jenni Finlay works a record with passion, integrity and a deep coolness,” Ray Wylie Hubbard says. “She got me to #1 in four weeks. Proof enough.” “Jenni can do no wrong,” echoes Gurf Morlix.
Finlay expanded her business into artist management five years ago when legendary songwriter James McMurtry immediately signed on as her first management client. McMurtry says. “Jenni is now poised to take over the world.”
Finlay teamed up with Brian T. Atkinson to launch Eight 30 Records five years ago. The Americana power duo has produced and released such titles as Cold and Bitter Tears: The Songs of Ted Hawkins, Danny Barnes' Got Myself Together (Ten Years Later), Dreamer: A Tribute to Kent Finlay, and The Messenger: A Tribute to Ray Wylie Hubbard.